If you are seeking a Florida expungement please review the expungement overview below. Check back often or Sign Up for an email alert when the Florida Expungement Kit is ready.

Requirement(s) to qualify for an expungement in the state:

A person is eligible when the following conditions are met:


1. An indictment, information, or other charging document was not filed or issued in the case.
2. An indictment, information, or other charging document, if filed or issued in the case, was dismissed or nolle prosequi by the state attorney or statewide prosecutor, or was dismissed by the court.
3. The criminal history record does not relate to the person being found guilty, pleading guilty or no contest to: luring a child, sexual battery, prostitution of minors, lewd or lascivious offenses committed upon or in the presence of persons less than 16, the Florida Communications Fraud Act, lewd or lascivious offenses committed upon or in the presence of an elderly person or disabled person, sexual performance by a child, offenses by public officers and employees, protection of minors; prohibition of certain acts in connection with obscenity, computer pornography, selling or buying of minors, drug trafficking, or any of the following defined as dangerous crimes-
   1. Arson;
   2. Aggravated assault;
   3. Aggravated battery;
   4. Illegal use of explosives;
   5. Child abuse or aggravated child abuse;
   6. Abuse of an elderly person or disabled adult, or aggravated abuse of an elderly person or disabled adult;
   7. Aircraft piracy;
   8. Kidnapping;
   9. Homicide;
   10. Manslaughter;
   11. Sexual battery;
   12. Robbery;
   13. Carjacking;
   14. Lewd, lascivious, or indecent assault or act upon or in presence of a child under the age of 16 years;
   15. Sexual activity with a child, who is 12 years of age or older but less than 18 years of age, by or at solicitation of person in familial or custodial authority;
   16. Burglary of a dwelling;
   17. Stalking and aggravated stalking;
   18. Act of domestic violence as defined in s. 741.28;
   19. Home invasion robbery;
   20. Act of terrorism as defined in s. 775.30; and
   21. Attempting or conspiring to commit any such crime.
   
   
4. Pays a $75 processing fee to the department for placement in the Department of Law Enforcement Operating Trust Fund, unless such fee is waived by the executive director.
5. Has submitted to the department a certified copy of the disposition of the charge to which the petition to expunge pertains.
6. Has never, prior to the date on which the application for a certificate of eligibility is filed, been adjudicated guilty of a criminal offense or similar ordinance violation or adjudicated delinquent for committing a felony or a misdemeanor specified in s. 943.051(3)(b).
7. Has not been adjudicated guilty of, or adjudicated delinquent for committing, any of the acts stemming from the arrest or alleged criminal activity to which the petition to expunge relates.
8. Has never gotten a prior sealing or expunction of a criminal history record under this section, former s. 893.14, former s. 901.33, or former s. 943.058.
9. Is no longer under court supervision related to the disposition of the arrest or alleged criminal activity to which the petition to expunge pertains.
10. Is not required to wait a minimum of 10 years prior to being eligible for an expunction of such records because all charges related to the arrest or criminal activity to which the petition to expunge pertains were dismissed prior to trial, adjudication, or the withholding of adjudication.

    In the case of juveniles, a non-serious or non-habitual offender shall have records expunged 5 years after they reach age 21. A serious or habitual offender shall have records expunged 5 years after reaching age 21. Not eligible if charged with a forcible felony as an adult over 18 years old or minor charged as an adult- then existing juvenile offense records to be merged into such records.

Additional restrictions on who can qualify for an expungement

1. Has never, been adjudicated guilty of a criminal offense or comparable ordinance violation, or been adjudicated delinquent for committing any felony or a misdemeanor specified in s. 943.051(3)(b).
2. Has not been adjudicated guilty of, or adjudicated delinquent for committing, any of the acts stemming from the arrest or alleged criminal activity.
3. Has never secured a prior sealing or expunction of a criminal history record under this section, or from any jurisdiction outside the state, unless expunction is sought of a criminal history record previously sealed for 10 years and the record is otherwise eligible for expunction.
4. Is eligible for such an expunction to the best of his or her knowledge or belief and does not have any other petition to expunge or any petition to seal pending before any court.

At the time of this writing there appears to be a state bill (HB 719) that prohibits sealing certain criminal records of minor defendants where the minor was found guilty of or plead guilty or nolo contendere to the offense

Does the law provide for sealing? What are the requirements?

Normally, records in any court, correctional facility, law enforcement or criminal justice agency will be affected.

The nonjudicial record of the arrest of a minor who has successfully completed a prearrest or postarrest diversion program may be expunged.

What does it mean if you have a record expunged or sealed

The process of legally destroying, obliterating or striking out records or information in files, computers and other depositories relating to criminal charges.

The effect of an expungement is that one's criminal record of arrest and/or conviction is erased and legally deemed not to have occurred

No. The records cannot be accessed for general law enforcement or civil use. Criminal history records in the custody of the department must be retained in all cases for purposes of evaluating later requests by the subject of the record for sealing or expunction, or for purposes of recreating the record in the event an order to expunge is vacated.

In juvenile cases, made available only to criminal justice agencies for the purpose of determining eligibility for prearrest, postarrest, or teen court diversion programs; when the record is sought as part of a criminal investigation; or when the subject of the record is a candidate for employment with a criminal justice agency.

Are you eligible for a Florida Expungement? Most crimes can be expunged. For a description of the crimes that cannot be expunged, click here .

Be sure to check the site often as we are in the process of adding Expungement Kit for the State of Florida soon.